“rock n roll”

i have discovered a new rock and roll-
one that speaks its truth without guitars-
one that you can not consume passively
as though you are commited an act of rebellion
by osmosis-

i have discovered a new rock and roll-
one that was never stolen from anyone
but built on old foundations
that were set to raise the potential
of those who would come later-
a rock and roll designed to elevate the ideas of its creators
with every layer they would add-
a rock and roll that acknowledged the danger inherent in this thought-
the mark of this beast is not 666
it is 234-
the number of rotations it takes for three minutes of its truth to echo in the ears of those who are willing to listen-
a rock and roll capable of destroying borders
not building new ones-

i have discovered a new rock and roll-
no longer will you be able to drop the needle on your turntable and let it inject you full of sedatives that convince you that the spinning of the record is a true revolution-
a rock and roll whose beat is kept
by the rhythmic, labored breathing
of its creators
trying to do so much more with so much less-
a rock and roll that sheds its past as it evolves-
that does not mimic it in the hope of recapturing that power-
that knows that the reason that whitey wanted to keep that nigger music locked up in harlem
was that it was frightening in its newness
and so favors the new-
a rock and roll that could never be used in a car commercial
because it would shatter the windows
with bricks thrown from the hands
of people who will no longer let themselves be used
as target markets-

i have discovered a new rock and roll-
and before you can buy the record you must participate-
because the stores only exist
when masses gather
demanding more-
a new rock and roll
that utters one simple truth
and it does it without distortion-
that we were not meant to live like this-
that as thinking beings and biological creatures
we were meant for more-
and that when drums beat in rhythm
we can march toward that meaning
so long as we all participate

i have discovered a new rock and roll-
i didn’t invent it
but i’m going to play some
for you-
tonight-